CHAPTER THREE
It had been three moons since Nightflower had rejected Darkkit as her kit. Darkkit still lived in her nest but she didn't have to suckle Nightflower anymore. Dovefeather's kit, Snowkit, had been born two moons ago and she always played with Darkkit's other siblings. Darkkit was always jealous of Ravenkit, Blackkit, and Ashkit. Not only they did not have red-amber eyes, they were accepted by all the members of the Clan.
Darkkit felt desperate to prove that she wasn't bad luck. She wanted to be with Nightflower and she wanted to be accepted. Darkkit padded out of the nursery, in search of a way to prove herself. There were no warriors in the center of the camp at the moment so Darkkit decided it was safe to venture out into the forest.
She stared in awe at the newly sprouted grass and the leaves appearing on the trees. Darkkit spotted a huge rabbit munching on some grass some fox-lengths away. Darkkit had seen the apprentices practice the hunting crouch and she had practiced it herself until she was sure she had mastered it.
Darkkit creeped to the rabbit, making sure her dark fur was well hidden by the tall grass. She was careful not to step on any leaf or make any movement with her tail. Darkkit lunged at the rabbit and killed it with a bite to the throat. She felt triumph surge through her. Not even a new apprentice would possibly catch prey this big!
Darkkit began to drag the rabbit back to camp. It was hard work, as the rabbit was bigger than she was. She spotted Starlingfoot at the entrance to the camp.
"Starlingfoot! Please help me!" Darkkit mewed. Starlingfoot turned and walked in Darkkit's direction.
"Darkkit! Why are you..." Starlingfoot stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the small kit try to drag the huge rabbit. "Did you...did you catch that rabbit?"
"Yes, I did!" Darkkit purred with pride.
"That's a very...big rabbit. Here, let me help," Starlingfoot bent down and picked up the rabbit. She could just barely get her jaws around the rabbit's neck. Starlingfoot signaled with her tail to Darkkit and the kit followed the deputy back into camp.
"Starlingfoot, that's a wonderful rabbit. Why is Darkkit with you?" Windstar had padded out of his den, his eyes widening with surprise.
"Windstar, Darkkit caught this rabbit," Starlingfoot mewed.
"What?" Windstar exclaimed, his eyes so wide Darkkit was afraid they would explode. "She's only three moons old!"
"I don't know how she possibly did it but she caught it. See?" Starlingfoot showed the small teeth marks in the rabbit's throat.
"That is almost unheard of! No apprentice has ever caught a piece of prey this big, and on the first try!" Windstar mewed. Darkkit looked down, blushing but still she was filled with pride and happiness.
"Nightflower! Come and see what your daughter has caught!" Windstar mewed into the nursery. Darkkit shuffled uneasily, wondering how her mother would react.
"What? A ball of moss?" Nightflower mewed boredly, until she saw the gigantic rabbit.
"She caught this rabbit all by herself. No one helped her catch it," Starlingfoot informed the shocked queen. "She might not be bad luck after all." Darkkit looked up hopefully but instead, Nightflower's amber eyes were cold.
"It's probably just luck. Any kit would've got a rabbit on their own," Nightflower mewed icily. Darkkit looked down again, drooping her ears. "The rabbit probably froze in terror because of her eyes." Darkkit's head shot up again, this time glaring at her mother. Darkkit's red eyes were filled with hatred and anger, but mostly frustration. She looked very threatening, even though she was just a kit.
Nightflower glared back at her kit as she turned and went back into the nursery, taking Ravenkit, Blackkit, and Ashkit with her. Darkkit unsheathed a paw and clawed at the dirt, using small movements to express her anger.
"Darkkit, why don't you take this rabbit to the elders? They will be happy to have such a grand feast," Starlingfoot gently nudged the kit. Darkkit nodded and proceeded in dragging the rabbit to the elders' den, all sense of happiness and pride gone.
"That's one big rabbit!" Heatherpelt mewed in surprise. "Darkkit, did you catch it all by yourself?" Darkkit nodded as she dragged the rabbit further into the den.
"Thank you so much," Settingsun purred, nuzzling Darkkit. The elders were among the few cats that didn't care that Darkkit had red eyes.
"This rabbit is delicious, and there's enough to let all of us to have a wonderful meal!" Wildfur bit eagerly into the rabbit. Darkkit regained a bit of happiness. Settingsun was the closest cat to her and Darkkit had always wished that she had been her mother, not Nightflower.
"Come on, Darkkit. You should have some too," Heatherpelt gently nudged the kit forward.
"Are you sure? I don't want any of you to starve," Darkkit mewed, but her rumbling stomach betrayed her words.
"We are sure! Now, come and eat with us," Settingsun purred as Darkkit took a big bite of the rabbit, purring in happiness. The three elders and Darkkit shared the rabbit. For once, since she had left Nightflower's nest, Darkkit felt truly happy.
"You will make a brilliant hunter, Darkkit," Wildfur purred as he licked his lips.
"Thank you. I'd better go now," Darkkit mewed, blushing.
"Please come and visit us soon!" Settingsun and Heatherpelt both mewed as Darkkit left the elders' den.
It was nightfall and by then, news had traveled that Darkkit had managed to kill a rabbit. Warriors now looked and treated her the same as other kits, only with much more respect. Other than Nightflower and Darkstorm, every warrior was proud of Darkkit, knowing that they had gained a wonderful hunter.
The apprentices also respected Darkkit, regardless of the fact that she was much younger than most of them. They sometimes taught her hunting and battling moves. They would even invite her to join them during meals.
Even the kits looked up to her with respect, other than her siblings; they always sneered at her and thought she was showing off, though secretly they all wanted to be like her. Graykit, Duskkit, and Snowkit always begged Darkkit to teach them hunting crouches and battling moves.
Even though she was much more accepted by the Clan than she was three moons ago, she was desperate to also be accepted by her family.
"Don't mind her. You are all better than her, but you just choose not to show it. I know one day you will beat her, not now, but someday. Someday soon," Nightflower always mewed to her jealous kits, instantly making them feel better. But, no matter how much the three kits tried, they never got to catch any prey before reaching six moons old.
END OF CHAPTER THREE
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~Silverfrost of IceClan